Goethe

Dramatist, novelist, lyric poet, and scientist, Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832) is unquestionably a major figure of Germany's national literature; his career and works created a culture in themselves. In this book T. J. Reed shows that in every phase of his life Goethe's most remarkable characteristic was an essentially youthful creativity, an optimism that still presents a powerful challenge to the pessimistic assumptions of modern culture. This book is intended for students of German literature, cultural studies, and comparative literature.